Selling a Honolulu home with a possible permit issue? Get clear next steps.
If a buyer, inspector, realtor, lender, appraiser, or escrow email raised a concern about unpermitted work, send the information you have. A local architectural professional can review the issue and recommend the next step.
An inspection report, escrow email, permit record, photo, or brief description is enough to start.
No Obligation
Tell us what raised the sale or escrow concern.
What does “selling with unpermitted work” mean?
It usually means something about the property may not match the home’s permit records, city records, inspection findings, or what a buyer, lender, appraiser, or realtor expected to see.
The issue might involve an enclosed lanai, garage conversion, added room, bathroom, deck, remodel, exterior change, or older work completed by a previous owner.
You do not need to know whether the work is definitely unpermitted before asking for help. If the issue came up during the sale, upload the inspection note, buyer request, permit record, photo, escrow message, or lender condition — or briefly describe what happened.
Permit problems often surface after the home is already in motion.
Many sellers do not discover a possible permit issue until the home is listed, in escrow, under contract, or being reviewed by a buyer’s team.
- A buyer’s inspection flagged an enclosed lanai, addition, garage conversion, bathroom, or deck.
- Escrow asked for permit records before closing.
- A realtor noticed something that may not match public records.
- A lender or appraiser raised a concern about the property.
- A buyer asked whether a remodel or addition was permitted.
- City or property records do not appear to match the home as it exists today.
- A previous owner may have completed work without clear documentation.
- The sale timeline is moving faster than the permit question.
A permit concern can slow down or complicate a sale.
A possible unpermitted work issue can create uncertainty during a sale because buyers, lenders, appraisers, escrow officers, and realtors may all need clearer information before moving forward.
The next step depends on the property, the work involved, what records show, and what the buyer or lender is asking for.
That is why guessing can waste time. A document-first review helps identify what the issue appears to involve and what the next step may be.
Inspection & Escrow Notes
This page may be for you if...
- You are selling a home and the buyer’s inspection raised a possible permit issue.
- Escrow is asking for proof of permits.
- A buyer is questioning an enclosed lanai, garage conversion, addition, deck, bathroom, or remodel.
- Your realtor mentioned that something may not match the home’s records.
- A lender or appraiser raised a concern before closing.
- The home has older improvements completed by a previous owner.
- Public records and the actual home do not appear to line up.
- You have an inspection report, escrow email, permit record, or photo but are not sure what it means.
Send the document or message that raised the concern.
You do not need to prepare a perfect file. Upload what you already have — such as a notice from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, often called DPP, an inspection report, escrow email, permit record, photo, or message. If you do not have a file, briefly describe what happened.
- Buyer inspection report
- Escrow or realtor email
- Lender or appraiser condition
- Photos of the area in question
- Permit record screenshot
- Old plans or drawings
- Seller disclosure question
- DPP notice, letter, or HNL Build message if you have one
- Brief written description of what happened
Send the sale-related permit issue for review.
Upload an inspection report, escrow email, permit record, photo, screenshot, or message — or briefly describe what happened. A local architectural professional will review what you send and recommend the next step.
No Obligation
Tell us what raised the sale or escrow concern.
The right next step depends on what was found and who is asking.
A sale-related permit issue is not one-size-fits-all. The next step may depend on whether the concern came from an inspection report, escrow request, buyer question, appraisal condition, permit record, or property photo.
The review can help identify whether the issue appears to involve old work, missing records, a mismatch, a possible after-the-fact permit issue, or something else.
Inspection notes, escrow emails, permit history, appraiser comments, photos, old plans, and property records may all help clarify the situation.
Depending on what is found, the next step may involve documentation, drawings, permit research, an after-the-fact permit path, or another recommended direction. No city outcome can be guaranteed.
Selling with unpermitted work questions
Related issues sellers often search for
Selling your home and a permit issue came up? Share what raised the concern.
You do not need to figure it out first. Send the inspection report, escrow email, permit record, photo, or brief description and get a plain-language review from a local architectural professional.